North Carolina Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney

North Carolina Jackknife Truck Accident Lawyer

Accidents involving large commercial trucks are some of the most damaging vehicle accidents reported. Whenever any type of truck accident occurs, victims must know how to prove liability for these incidents and how to recover their losses. An experienced North Carolina jackknife truck accident attorney can be an invaluable asset for anyone who has been injured in a jackknife accident.

Experienced Legal Counsel for Jackknife Truck Accidents

The Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. can provide comprehensive legal support for your impending truck accident claim. With more than 40 years of professional experience in all types of truck accident personal injury cases, our firm is ready to help prove fault for your recent accident, establish the full extent of your claimable damages, and hold the at-fault party accountable for your losses.

Proving fault is just one of the many legal challenges you face in the aftermath of any vehicle accident in the state. You must not only prove exactly how your accident happened but also show that your claimed damages directly resulted from the accident and not from any other cause. This may sound straightforward enough, but the reality is that any victim is likely to encounter legal complications they will not be able to overcome on their own.

Timing Is Crucial When You Seek Compensation for an Accident

When you choose the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. to represent your case, you will have a legal advocate ready to address any concerns and answer any questions you have about your recovery options. You have a limited time in which to seek compensation for your damages, so it is crucial that you connect with legal counsel you can trust as soon as possible to ensure the greatest chance of success with the recovery efforts you attempt.

Understanding What Happens in a Jackknife Accident

Whenever a large tractor-trailer is involved in an accident, the resulting damages can be catastrophic for multiple victims. A jackknife accident occurs when the truck’s trailer swings out to one side as the vehicle continues its forward motion. The two segments of the vehicle form a “V” shape, resembling a folding knife. This type of accident can happen for various reasons, including negligent handling of the truck, speeding, and dangerous road conditions.

When a jackknife accident occurs, the vehicle will spread over multiple lanes of traffic, and the resulting accident may involve multiple victims. Depending on how your recent accident occurred, it is possible for more than one party to bear fault for the resulting damages. Proving fault is often more challenging for truck accidents than other vehicle accidents, and any victim could encounter unexpected legal issues they cannot resolve on their own.

Most truck accidents reported result from negligence, such as distracted driving or moving violations. However, they may also happen from illegal misconduct like intoxicated driving. An experienced North Carolina jackknife truck accident attorney can help their client gather the evidence needed to prove fault and identify every party liable for the victim’s damages.

One issue that might arise in a truck accident case and complicate a victim’s efforts to prove liability is the concept of vicarious liability. It’s possible for a truck driver’s employer to be found vicariously liable for an accident their driver caused if they were negligent in their hiring, training, or regulation enforcement that contributed to the accident. Your North Carolina truck accident attorney can explain how this could influence your case.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim for a Truck Accident

Your first option for recovering from any vehicle accident is filing an auto insurance claim against the at-fault driver. You must identify the party responsible for causing the accident and then prove exactly how they caused it before you can recover compensation. Every driver must have auto insurance that includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage, and your attorney can help file your claim.

A North Carolina jackknife truck accident attorney can help their client with the auto insurance claim filing process and resolve any disputes the insurance carrier raises against the claim. Once you receive your settlement offer, your attorney can ensure it is suitable under the terms of the policy and then help build a personal injury claim to recover any damages not covered by insurance.

Claiming Compensation With a Personal Injury Suit

When an at-fault driver does not have auto insurance, or when their insurance does not fully cover your total damages, you can claim the remainder of your losses through a personal injury suit. Under the state’s personal injury statutes, the plaintiff may seek compensation for the losses the defendant caused with their negligence or intentional misconduct, which may include:

• Vehicle repair costs and other property damage not covered by the defendant’s auto insurance policy.
• Medical expenses that insurance can’t cover, including the cost of any ongoing or future care the victim needs to fully recover from their injuries. Your attorney can help ensure all your medical expenses arising from your accident are fully addressed in your personal injury claim.
• Lost wages. When you cannot work due to the harm another party inflicted, they are responsible for the income you cannot earn during this time. This applies to future income you can no longer earn if you have been permanently disabled by your accident.
• Pain and suffering. You have the right to seek compensation for the physical pain and psychological distress the defendant caused. This could form the bulk of your final case award if you have an experienced attorney representing your case.

The Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. will work closely with you to help determine the full scope of your claimable damages and hold the appropriate party or parties accountable. You have a very short time in which to file an auto insurance claim after an accident, and you also face a strict statute of limitations for filing your personal injury claim against an at-fault driver. It’s imperative to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

FAQs

Q: How Much Are Most Truck Accident Settlements?

A: In North Carolina, the total value of your truck accident case depends on the extent of the damages you suffered. Once you have proven fault and identified the party or parties responsible for causing your accident, you can hold them accountable for the full scope of your resulting financial losses. These are likely to include property damage, medical expenses, and lost income. You also have the right to seek compensation for your pain and suffering.

Q: How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated in Civil Claims?

A: There is no single fixed formula for calculating pain and suffering in a personal injury claim, and the state does not enforce any caps or limits on pain and suffering compensation in truck accident claims. You may seek as much as you believe to be appropriate to reflect the severity of the harm you suffered. Your North Carolina jackknife truck accident attorney can help determine a reasonable amount based on the severity of your condition.

Q: Is North Carolina a No-Fault State for Truck Accidents?

A: No, the state’s laws for vehicle accidents include the fault rule, meaning whoever is at fault for causing an accident absorbs liability for the resulting damages. This means it will be essential for you to prove fault for your recent accident before you will be able to recover any compensation for your damages. You will need to identify the driver responsible for causing your accident, prove exactly how they caused it, and prove the full extent of the resulting damages.

Q: What Is the Contributory Fault Rule?

A: The contributory fault rule for personal injuries means that if a plaintiff is found liable for causing their claimed damages, even slightly, they are not allowed to claim compensation from any other liable party. If you are worried that you will bear partial responsibility for your recent truck accident, it is vital that you consult an experienced jackknife truck accident attorney as soon as possible to discuss your concerns.

Q: What Will It Cost to Hire a Jackknife Truck Accident Attorney?

A: The Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we charge our clients a fee only after we have won their case. This fee is a percentage of the total amount recovered, so there is no risk of you paying more for legal counsel than you win in compensation for your damages. This contingency fee policy ensures that legal representation is accessible when you need it most, regardless of your financial situation.

Call the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A. For A Free Consultation

The right legal team on your side can streamline your recovery and help maximize the compensation you receive for your recent truck accident through both an auto insurance claim and a personal injury suit. If you are ready to learn how an experienced North Carolina jackknife truck accident attorney can help you recover, contact the Law Offices of Wade E. Byrd P.A., today to schedule a free consultation with our team.